In the early Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu had three sons: Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, Prince of Qin Li Shimin, and Prince of Qi Li Yuanji. Li Shimin had helped his father conquer the Sui Dynasty and establish the Tang, earning great favor through his military achievements. As the eldest son and crown prince, Li Jiancheng lacked Shimin's prestige and martial prowess, and fearing he might lose his claim to the throne, he conspired with their younger brother Li Yuanji to assassinate Li Shimin.
Upon receiving secret intelligence, Emperor Li Shimin immediately gathered his trusted advisor Fang Xuanling and others to devise a counterstrategy. They resolved to strike first, secretly ambushing troops at Xuanwu Gate, and in a surprise attack, killed both Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.
At this critical moment, imperial guard commander Jing Junhong held his position at Xuanwu Gate with only a small force. When Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji's men rallied two thousand elite soldiers to storm the gate, the battle turned fierce, with arrows flying all the way to the palace walls. Jing Junhong charged forward, leading his men in a desperate counterattack, but was ultimately overwhelmed by the superior numbers. His fearless courage in the face of overwhelming odds—stepping up to do what was right despite certain defeat—earned him high praise from Li Shimin, who later became Emperor Taizong of Tang. In the Tang histories, Jing Junhong is remembered as a model of "loyalty and righteousness."
"Ting Shen Er Chu" was historically used to describe acts of courage and righteousness. Now it refers to stepping forward boldly and fearlessly to take on responsibility in the face of danger or difficulty.
Source: *Old Book of Tang*, Volume 187, "Biography of Jing Junhong and the Martyrs"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "挺身而出" came to describe stepping forward boldly and fearlessly to take on responsibility in the face of danger or difficulty.